Bill Text: TX HB522 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 522 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to direct payment by a health insurer to physicians and health care providers.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-19 - Left pending in committee [HB522 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB522-Introduced.html

	83R984 KKR-D

	By: Kuempel	H.B. No. 522



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to direct payment by a health insurer to physicians and
	health care providers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 1204,
	Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER B. ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS; DIRECT PAYMENT OF
	BENEFITS
	SECTION 2. Section 1204.051(3), Insurance Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(3) "Health care provider" means a person who provides
	health care services or ambulance services under a license,
	certificate, registration, or other similar evidence of regulation
	issued by this or another state of the United States.
	SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 1204, Insurance Code, is
	amended by adding Sections 1204.056, 1204.057, and 1204.058 to read
	as follows:
	Sec. 1204.056. ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS OPTION REQUIRED.
	(a) A health insurance policy claim form must provide an option
	for the claimant to assign benefits to a physician or health care
	provider who provided covered services.
	(b) The health insurer may require a written attestation of
	assignment of benefits.
	Sec. 1204.057. AMOUNT OF PAYMENT UNDER ASSIGNMENT OF
	BENEFITS. A payment to a physician or health care provider under an
	assignment of benefits may not be more than the amount the insurer
	would have paid in the absence of an assignment of benefits.
	Sec. 1204.058. DIRECT PAYMENT PROVISION AUTHORIZED. A
	health insurance policy may provide for payment of benefits
	directly to a physician or health care provider who provides
	covered services to a covered person, even in the absence of an
	assignment of benefits.
	SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 1301, Insurance Code, is
	amended by adding Section 1301.0561 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1301.0561. DIRECT PAYMENT TO PREFERRED PROVIDERS
	REQUIRED. An insurer that issues a preferred provider benefit plan
	shall pay a preferred provider directly for covered services
	provided to a person insured under the plan, in accordance with this
	chapter, without requiring an assignment of benefits.
	SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	an insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
	or after January 1, 2014. An insurance policy delivered, issued for
	delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2014, is governed by the law
	in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
	that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.